A/N: hey there! I've returned with another Corpse Bride ficcie, and tis a chaptered one. This first one's kinda short, but since it's a starter to see if everyone wants me to continue, I guess it's okay.

I have to say, I wasn't going to post this here at first. But upon seeing that I got ten reviews on my last one-shot, I was overjoyed, and inspired to post it here. Knowing you guys enjoyed my last fic made me happy .

I, of course, have seen the movie since my last story (four times, actually XD), so I think this one will be lots better. I'm still a strong Victor/Emily fan, even after seeing the movie. I was sad with the ending, but I do admit Victor/Victoria has it's cuteness, even though I really don't care for it much. I won't hate anyone who does like it though, don't get me wrong. I just think Victor/Emily was a lot more bittersweet. Thus was my inspiration to start this story.

Anyway, enough with my drabble. Please let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: Tim Burton owns Corpse Bride and all of it's characters. Not me.

"Though We Walk Through the Valley"

Chapter 1 – "Some Things are Better Off Left at the Door"

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A sigh softly sounded from Victor's mouth, and he watched as it misted into the cold December air. Shivering a bit, he pulled his coat closer and folded his arms together.

He leaned his back against the stone wall of the bridge, the whole town now in his view. Looking past the bell tower, he turned his gaze to a vast house with a dark red roof – his and Victoria's home.

Victor sighed again, something he'd been doing a lot lately. For about a month, to be precise.

…Just about as long as he'd been married to Victoria.

Just a day after the scene at the chapel, Victor and Victoria had been married, but had only been permitted to do so because her parents had become desperate for a wealthy groom to wed to their daughter. And though Victor didn't care for the reason their marriage had been allowed, he hadn't been as happy as he thought he would be. He had of course been elated beyond belief at first, but there was a little void inside of him that hadn't been filled. As time went on, Victor tried to ignore it, but he felt it becoming larger and more desperate to be filled.

He spent a lot of time on his own now, trying to think, which was why he was now on the bridge by himself. It was his favorite place to be especially since no one was ever there. However, the last time he had gone there to think, he wished he hadn't. The bridge went over the river that divided the town from the church and the forest. And upon looking at the forest that one night, Victor found the reason for his feeling of incompletion.

It was Emily. The infamous Corpse Bride of the Land of the Dead, Emily.

When he had finally come to that realization, Victor had felt so ashamed that he distanced himself from everyone – especially Victoria – for a good couple of days. He was rarely home, out walking around town, and only did go home for sleep. If he ate at all, it would be little tidbits from random dime stores he walked past. Beyond feeling ashamed at the truth, he felt embarrassed, guilty, foolish… he could've gone on and on with the list, and all for different reasons.

Though Victor had eventually come back into normal contact with everyone else, he still remained the tiniest distant from Victoria. Of course, she had tried to talk with him countless times, but he told her each time that nothing was bothering him. He knew she knew he was lying, and it made him feel immensely guilty every time she had the look on her face that told him so. And every time she looked rejected, or put down because he pulled away from an embrace, or conversation, made it even worse. Sometimes he would even get annoyed at her questioning all of the time, even though she was his wife, and it was expected for her to worry about him.

Wife…

Victor chuckled at himself. How dare he call Victoria his wife? Though she technically and lawfully was, he knew he had no right to. He had realized and admitted to himself that the reason he wasn't entirely happy with his life with Victoria… was because of another woman.

Victor ran a hand over his eyes and down his face, distress beginning to wash over him. He was unable to think of a solution. He knew leaving his current life behind was so much out of the question that he stopped thinking about it quicker than it came to him. Though the option had surfaced more times than Victor cared for. But he knew he couldn't stand the burden carrying over him forever, nor could he avoid Victoria forever.

Sighing for the umpteenth time that evening, Victor gave himself a light push from the wall and stood straight up. With one last look at the forest yards behind him, he turned and made his way off of the bridge and back into the little town.

Sparkling white snow crunched beneath his tiny feet, and Victor enjoyed listening to it, along with the barely-audible sounds of the wide through the trees in the forest.

He smiled, allowing himself a rare, carefree moment of serenity. He continued walking toward the town.

His smile vanished though, as a sharp 'click' sounded in his ears instead of the gentle 'crunch'. Cringing, Victor opened his eyes and noticed he was now on the cobblestone road that went through town. They always shoveled the snow, only up to the entry gates. He was back in reality once he passed through those gates. He didn't like it. He wanted to turn around and go back to the bridge, but it was already late, and he knew he had to get home before Victoria became even more concerned for him than she already was.

It wasn't that long of a walk back to his home, since the town itself wasn't that big in the first place. All of the buildings were crammed together, which was another thing about the place that reminded Victor that there was hardly any freedom there. Completely opposite of the Land of the Dead…

Victor shook his head. He was now standing in front of his house, and this was usually where he paused. Every night he went out for a walk to think, he would always stop before entering into the house once more, making sure everything he had thought about whilst on his own left him before going back in. He had to pay no mind whatsoever to his wishes, longings, or thoughts that went against the life he had inside of that house. It was just something he knew he had to do.

Once a few moments had passed, Victor straightened his coat and opened the mahogany double doors reluctantly.

"I'm… home." He called out.